MSNBC On OFA Fundraising: “This Just Looks Bad”

NBC’s Chuck Todd: “Excuse Us? This Just Looks Bad. It Looks Like The White House Is Selling Access.” TODD:“Finally, The New York Times reported over the weekend that donors who contribute and raise $500,000 for President Obama's Organizing for Action will get special access to the President. That's right. They’re selling access to the President. The new group has an ambitious goal -- to raise $50 million to convert the President's re-election campaign into an advocacy network and they’re offering access. The New York Timessays ‘giving or raising $500,000 or more puts donors on a national advisory board for Mr. Obama's group and the privilege of attending quarterly meetings with the President along with other meetings at the White House.’ Excuse us? This just looks bad. It looks like the White House is selling access. The definition of how you define selling access. If you believe money has a stranglehold over the entire political system, this is ceding the moral high ground. And the President always has, from the moment he first announced his presidential bid in Springfield, six years ago, he stressed the need to curb the influence of special interests in Washington.” (MSNBC’s “The Daily Rundown,” 2/25/13)